The legacy of two late women councillors will live forever after the City renamed important landmarks after them, posthumously.
A unanimous Council motion has paved way for the oval-shaped Council Chamber to be named after the late, former Speaker Cllr Connie Bapela. Council has also ratified a decision to rename the Caroline Street Retirement Village after the late Cllr Suzanne Clarke.
Current Speaker, Cllr Nonceba Molwele hosted a virtual engagement on Wednesday, 4 November in honour of the legacy of the two selfless women leaders of the Johannesburg City Council.
The move aims to pay tribute to both late councillors, who have been hailed as heroines for dedicating their lives in service to others. It was also an opportunity to reflect on the immense contribution the two have made in Johannesburg.
The virtual engagement was attended by the widower of the late Cllr Bapela, the Deputy Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Obed Bapela and their two children. The Gauteng Legislature’s Chair of Chairs, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane called on all councillors and public officials to honour the late Cllr Bapela by giving selfless service to their communities.
“Never once in my lifetime did I ever imagine talking about Connie as the late. I’m still battling to come to terms with that harsh reality even today. She was the epitome of a true servant of the people,” said Nkosi-Malobane.
She recalled how during the dark days of apartheid in 1986, she and the late Cllr Bapela were detained at the then Johannesburg Prison. “While in detention we were scared that we might be raped, murdered or disappear without a trace. But as sisters, we stood together,” Nkosi-Malobane recalled.
Cllr Molwele said the design of the oval-shaped council chamber represents transparency, openness and accountability, some of the attributes which describe the late Cllr Bapela.
“Mama Connie was very passionate about public participation and the new Council Chamber is indeed open to the public, which is a reminder of who she was. She was a hard-worker, a graceful, beautiful and authentic African leader who was indeed orderly, transparent and committed to the transformation of the people of Johannesburg. She was a beacon of hope to many people, especially women,” said Cllr Molwele.
Equally, Cllr Molwele hailed the late Cllr Clarke as a heroine who fought until the end in her long battle against cancer.
“Cllr Clarke was a truly remarkable person who dedicated all her life to uplift and assist everyone who sought her help. She gave off herself without a second thought about her wellbeing,” said Cllr Molwele.
The MMC for Community Development, Cllr Margaret Arnolds described the late Cllr Clarke as someone who lived her life in service to others whenever she got the opportunity. “The late Cllr Clarke believed that the youth must be motivated to be in high positions. She drew her inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I don’t think any woman was as deserving as she is to have the institution she spent her life serving, named after her,” said Cllr
Arnolds.
Cllr Alex Christians said it was very disheartening to hear that almost 26 years later into democracy, women still have to fight for recognition and equality.
“It was an honour for me to have made the motion to rename Caroline Street Retirement village after the late Cllr Clarke. One thing that stood out for me when I first met the late Cllr Clarke was that she could speak nine South African languages and Portuguese fluently,” said Cllr Christians.
Thulani Ndlovu from the Connie Bapela Foundation welcomed the City’s decision to rename the council chamber after the late councillor.
“Connie Bapela’s name will continue to reverberate in our communities,” said Ndlovu.
